... AFFAIRS IN CHINA, DIRECTORATE OF THE NORTHERN RAILWAY. . BRITISH PRESTIGE THREATENED. PRESS ASSOCIATION FOREIGN SPECIAL. PEniN, FEBBUARY 20. - The difficulties arising out of the question of the directorate of the Northern Railway, of which the abrupt dismissal of Hu Qu Fen, chief director, was the immediate cause, ha-ve gradually increased, and now the situation has become so acute that it ...

... LItFE IN ANERICA. THE WASHINGTON CELEBBATIONS SURGEON DALY AND THE COMMISSARIAT. DEPARTURE OF MR. CHOATE. Is BY CABLE. FROM1 OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. NEW YoJac, WsmNExsDAY.-To-day being the an-C niversary of Washington's birthday weas, in accord- ...

... CoRRESPOND ENCE. THE UNIVEESITU QUESTION. To THE EDITOR OF THE BELFAST NEVsS-Li.trER. Si-More than a week has elapsed since the appearance of my letter on this thorny subject in your columns. The river of controversy which it called forth, and which, for a time, surged along in full and angry flood, seems to be running dry, only a few tiny runnels being now heard trickling through the Press. I ...

... ELECTION INTELLIGENCE ROTHERHAM DIVISION-REDUCTION OF THE SEPARATIST MLJORITY. The result of this election was declared yester- day, as folows:- Holland (S.) ?? 6,671 Wagge (U.) ?? 4,714 Majority . ?? -1,957 Previous results:- 1895-Mr. Acland ?? unopposed. 1392-Aoland (S. .6,567 Foljambe (U.) .. . ?? 2,839 Mjeity . - 3,728 1886-scland (S.) ?? ?? 5,155 Foejainbe (U.) . . 2,070 Majority . , 3 ...

... COURT AND FASH1IO. THE COURT. WnL3son CAsnz, SaTuRDAYv-The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by the Dowager Lady Ampthill and the Honourable Hariet Phipps. Earl Beauchamp, Governor of New South Wales, and Lord Tennyson, Governor of South Austraiia, arrived, and were severally introduced to her Ma- jesty's presence by the Lord-in-Waiting, when the Queen conferred upon them the ...

... COURT AND F'ASHRON. THE COURT. WINDSOR C.SLEL1, WEnDNESDAY.-The Queen and her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by the Honoumrable Harriet Phipps. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Dnchess of York's three children arrived at the Castle on a visit to her Majesty The Dowager Lady Ampthi1ll, who has suc- ceeded Viscoantess Downe as Lady-in ...

... rTH MAIIINERS' PARISH CHURCH.I SOCIAL MEETING. A social meeting of a most enjoyable character was held last night4nosnaation with:thia churc6 in the Mariners' Mission all, Nelson Street. The arrangements we-re very capably carried out, and the decorations, which were of a very attractive and appropriate descrip- tion, including several artistically-displayed ?? texts and mottoes reflected ...

... ELECTIN 1NTELLIGENCE. NORTH ANTRIM DIVISION. As already announced, the returning officer has fixed Saturday, the 25th inst., as the day of nomi- nation, and will attend Qt the Magistrates' room, Courthouse, Ballynoney, on that day between one and three o'clock to receive nomination papers of candidates. Itt has also been announced that nomi- nation papers are obtainable from the clerk of petty ...

... ! IiT ANERICA.| IBEkAISLE WILHELM II. AGROUND. AIJACK ON pgSIDENT 3fKINLEY] BY CABLE. . ~n~rs FrlnAXE-he Gerrian steamner \ , g-9w 15 .TO Naples, is aground in the , HCLvalI states that Maximan A -i j'1 i\ nis afternocn, escorte(d by ,-II ir ops (f1 cavaIry, Nvith 2,000 ?? ppulation displayed wild H. ;, n: lkpresentatives to-day, Mr. 11 u0ijr',el Jirdianciside a. 6ensational ;.rt rt ...

... THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BELFAST *,VS-LETTER. Sm-Being an undergraduate in arts of the 1 ?? and an old Queen's man, I have followed with interest the various arguments for and against the establishment of two new universities in Ireland, and as I consider that I have as much title to express my views as some of your late cor- respondents, may I be allowed to do so in ...

... COURT AND FASRION. THE COURT. WiNDsoa CAsra, Tfs rsDnA.Y-The Queen and; her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by the Honourable Horatio Stopford. His Royal Highness Prince Christian of Schles- wig-Holstein. with her Highness Princess Victoria, dined with her Majesty last evening. General Sir Francis Grenfell, ?? Governor and Commander-in-Chief ...

... THE COURT. WcIuNsoB, TrESDAY. -The Queen drove ol yesterday, accompanied by Princess Louis oa Battenberg, Princesses Alice and Louise, and Prince George took leave of the Queen later in thf dav, and left for Darmstadt. Lieut.-Colonel tht Hononrable H. C. Legge was in attendance at the railwsay station upon their departure. The Queen went out this morning, and was attended by the Honoarable ...